Combination baggage rack and lighting fixture



DCC- 26, 1939- A. T. HAGERTY ET A1. 2,185,078

COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Dec. 31, 1956 5 sheets-sheet 1 IM* F W 1MM I '@"i www 32 n JUNI.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 31, 1936 iw/@nto PS nxaw THag A. T. HAGERTY ET AL COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Dec. 26,v 1939.

Dec. 26, 1939. 2,185,078

coMBINATIoN BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE .A. Sr. HAGERTY ET A| l 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 51, 1956 Dec. 26, 1939. 2,185,078

COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE A. T. HAGERTY ET Ab.

Filed Deo. 3l, 1936 A 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 26, 1939.

A. T. HAGER-rv ET AL.

COMBINATION BAGGAGE `RACK-AND LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed ne.. 51, 193e 5 Sheets-sheet 5 @mfg n y l l V 1. 1/4.6, lll/7. r4! f/7,. III/,mf fad@ 1m m v@nahezu TH Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES' PATENT "ol-FICE COMBINATION BAGGAGE RACK AND LIGHTING FIXTURE f Application December 31,1936, serial No. 118,580

, Claims. (ci, n240. 'z1 1.)

The principal object of this invention is to.V combine a baggage rack with a lighting fixture in such a way that the attractiveness and effectiveness of` the lighting means more orless obscures 5 the utilitarian function of the baggage rack, this object being accomplished by structure which may be manufactured at minimum cost and readily assembled and disassembled on the car.

Further and other objects and advantages 10. will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds and the description is read in conjunction with the drawings, in which Fig. 1 isa plan view of a preferred form of the invention with portions broken away;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, transverse, sectional view through the outer edge of the rack;

Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal, sectional views taken on the lines 4-4 and 5 5, respectively of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the prn cipal structural elements and the manner in which they are assembled together;

Fig, 'l is a fragmentary, perspective view showing the combined baggage rack and lighting fixture installed in the car;

Fig. 8 is a vertical, sectional view taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2;

v Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view, showing one way in which the louvres may be resiliently held in place within the lighting trough;

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of the louvre holding means shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 shows another way of holding the louvres in place within the lighting trough Fig. 13 is a plan view of the louvre holding means shown in Fig. l2;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary, perspective view showinng the application of a modified form of the invention to the interior of the car;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal, sectional view through being taken on the line l5-I5 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 16 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line IS--IG of Fig. l5; and

Fig. 1'7 is a sectional view taken on the line |1--l1 of Fig. l5.

A preferred form of the invention and several modifications have been shown in the drawings and will, hereafter be described, but it will be understood that the appended claims are not limited to the structure shown and should be the modified arrangement of Fig. 14, the section construed'a's/broadly as the prior art will permit.

The combined baggage rack and lighting'flxture include a plurality of wall brackets A, end brackets B, connecting rods C which span the distance between brackets and form' the baggage rack, a lighting trough D built into the outer mar- Vgin of Vthe rack, a hinged door assembly E which carries the light transmitting or light directing elements, and the finish molding F extending along the outer margin of the rack.

The wall .brackets A are preferably cast in aluminum, and each comprises a vertical vweb portion 20 provided with laterally extending ledges 2l, 22, and bottom flanges 23, 24, the latter curving downwardly adjacent to the inner margin of the bracket and terminating in an enlarged portion adapted to receive one or more screws 26 for fastening the lower portion of the bracket to the wall 21. The bottom flanges 23 and 24 connect with a semiecircular portion (Figs. 2 and 6) adjacent to the outer margin of the bracket to form a part of the lighting trough. The top of the bracket is secured to the wall by ,one or more screws 28 passing through bosses which are cast integrally with the bracket.

The end brackets Bare much the same as the wall brackets A, the principal difference being that there are no projecting iianges on one side of the vertical web 20 in order that the web may fit tightly against the end wall or bulkhead 29 of the car.

Since the end brackets and wall brackets are so nearly alike, similar reference characters will be used for corresponding parts.

The entire baggage rack assembly is divided into a 'plurality of sections, each of which is bounded at its sides by a wallor an end bracket. The sections are in a large measure independent of one another so that they maybe individually removed for replacement or repair. l

The brackets of each section are connected by a pair of rods C, one of which, 30, is joined to the corresponding rod of the adjacent section at the apertured lug 3| formed on the wall bracket, and the other rod of which, 32, is joined with the corresponding rod of the adjacent section through an opening 33 in the vertical web 20, as best shown in`Fig. 8.

A convenient means for joining the rods together is shown in Fig. 9 in which collars 34 are welded adjacent to the ends of the rods tofact as spacers, and the projecting ends are machined to provide a threaded male portion 35 adapted to be screwed into a drilled and tapped female portion 36 vof the adjacent rod. The collars 34 vangle 42.

tween the bottom' ange of the angle and the V At the end brackets, the front and rear rods 38 and 32 are secured in piace by screws 40, as best shown in Fig. 1.

After the brackets and rods have beenput in place, the brackets are connected by angle bars 4| and 42 which t into recesses 43 provided in. the bottom flanges of the wall brackets so that the inside faces ofthe angles are flush with the semi-circular portion of the flanges 23 and 24. These angles are secured in place by any suitable means, such as screws 44, as best shown in Figs.

2 and 3. After the angles are in place, the reflector trough is fastened in place, the trough being cut into lengths corresponding to the rack sections to facilitate-'assembling and disassembllng the individual sections. The reector may be secured in place by light screws, such asshown Y at 46 in Figs. 2 and 5.

A plurality of lamp sockets 41 are supported from the reflector trough by angleA brackets 48 secured in place by nuts and bolts 49'. The wires to and from the lamp sockets pass through openings 50 in the' top of the trough and are then carried to the mainconduitsthrough the openings 5| in the wall brackets.. Preferably, there are at least; two lamps for each section of the rack.

Thev outside molding F is preferably an extruded aluminum piece and may have anornamental design on its outside face. The top of the molding is curved inwardly with a. radius that-corresponds to that .of the collar 34 and terminates in an inwardly extending flange 52 to whichclips 53 are secured in the manner best shown in Fig. 2. The clips firmly hold the moldingagainst the wall brackets and prevent rattling.

In applying the molding F, the upper curved portion is slipped over the collars 34 with the front portion held at an angle to the vertical. The molding is'then swung about the collar to bring the face of the'molding in a vertical position and-the molding is then fixed in place by screws 54 which enter the bottom ange of the Sumcient clearance is provided beinwardiy extending ange 55 of the molding so that the molding can be swung into position. Slots 56 in the top of the molding accommodate the vertical web 20 of the wall brackets.

Each baggage rack section is provided with an aluminum floorv plate 51 which rests on the laterally extending flanges 2| and 22,v and on the inwardly extending flange 52 of the molding F.

The inner margin oi the plate is curved upwardly as indicated at 58. Suitable screws 59 secure th plates in place.

Finish sheets of light metal or plyboard are secured to the bottom flanges 23 and 24 of the brackets. The pieces are held in place by finish strips 6I, as best shown in Fig. 8.

The door assembly E, which preferably swings on a longitudinal axis, consists of opposed angles 62 and 63, preferably of extruded aluminum and provided with laterally extending flanges 64 and 65 adjacent to the top of the vertical web and an the outside faces of the angles 62 and 63.

inwardly extending flange 86 adjacent tothe bottom of that web. 'I'he angles are held in spaced relation by a plurality of arches 61 heid in place by screws 68. The inside flanges 65 and 66 of the angles 62 and 63 are milled with regularly spaced vertically alined slots 69 adapted to Ireceive louvres 1|l preferably of the form shown 1I strike the bottom iiange of the angles and /10 then retaining spring clips 12 are inserted in the slot 13 ofthe louvres to hold them resiliently I in place, the feet 14 of the spring clips resting v on the ledges 65 of the angles 62 and 63. The

resilient mounting of the louvres prevents them from rattling and still permits them to bereplaced in case of damage.

Another method of securing the louvres in place is shown in Fig. 10 in which a strip 15 of resilient metal,such as light steel, is secured to strip 15 is provided with a. plurality of upstanding lingers 18 of the form shown, so that when the llouvre is pushed upwardly between the angles 62 and 63, the spring fingers hold the louvres in place. When a retaining strip such as the strip 15 is used, the slots 11 are of an appropriate size to receive the inwardly extending portion 18 of the fingers.

Another means for resiliently clamping the vlouvres in place is shown in Figs. l2 and 13,

in which a rubber strip 19 is forced between the upper edge of the channelI and the fingers 89 of the louvres.

' The. door assembly is swung about a longitudinal axis on a concealed hinge 8|, the pintle 82 of which seats within a groove 83 formed in the horizontal ange of the channel 62. The door is held in closed position by any suitable means,

Aas for example, a spring latch 84 fastened by l latch to the left (Fig. 3) will release the door.

In order to prevent the door assembly from rattling,` the horizontal web of the angle 62 may rest against a rubber strip 89 which is dovetailed into the flange 55 of the molding F.

`In the modified form of the invention shown' in Figs. 14-17 inclusive, the door assembly carries a iight transmitting bowl 90 and is hinged on a transverse concealed hinge 9| of quadrantV form (Fig. 15) supported on a transverse plate 92 secured by screws 93 to a fiat bar 94 extending along the inner margin of the lighting trough vand to the flange 55 of the molding F at the outer margin of the trough. 'Each of the transverse plates 92 have oifset flanges 95 to permitr the door 96 to be flush with the-face of the plate 92. Sound insulating rubber strips .91 are dovel tailed into the flanges of the transverse plates 92, the bar 94 and the flange 55 of the molding F to insure against rattling of the door.

The bowl 90 has laterally extending flanges 98 which overlap and rest upon the margin of the openingsv 99 in the door 96. A rubber gasket |00 is interposed between the flanges 98 and the door to prevent rattling and the bowlis held in place by a plurality of clips |0| suitably fastened to the door 96.

TheA

A spring latch IM is fastened by screws |03y to the free end of each door, and a shoulder |04 on the latch 'engages the adjacent flange 95 of the transverse plate 9-2 to hold the door in closed position. A iinger |05' extends downwardly slightly below the lace of the door 96 and plate 92 to permit the latch to be operated.

Obviously louvres might be used in place of the light transmitting bowl shown in Figs. 14-17 inclusive, and similarly light transmitting bowls l may be used in place of the louvres shown in Figs. 1-13 inclusive.

We claim:

l. A baggage rack for a vehicle including spaced bracket supporting members, an upper floor plate and a lower ilnishplate spaced apart and supported by the bracket, a continuous lighting trough between the plate and nish sheet extending between said spaced bracket supporting members and opening downwardly through the finish sheet, and lighting means in the trough co-extensive with the length of the trough.

2. A baggage rack for a vehicle including spaced Wall bracket supporting members, an upper oor, plate and a lower finish sheet spaced apart vand supported by the brackets, a continuous trough along the outer edge of the rack and between the plate and the finish sheet extending between said spaced bracket supporting members and opening downwardly through the-nish sheet, and lighting means in the trough co-extensive with the length oi' the trough.

n 3. In a vehicle. a baggage rack extending longitudinally oi the vehicle along a side wall thereof, a downwardly opening longitudinally extending troughmounted on the baggage rack and continuous throughout the length of the rack, and

lighting means in the trough coextensive therewith, the trough being along the outer margin of the rack and having a plurality of transversely extending louvers across the mouth oi the trough.

4. In a vehicle, a baggage rack extending longitudinally of the vehicle alongthe side wall thereof, said rack comprising a plurality of spaced wall brackets, a relatively deep molding connectlng the outer ends of the wall brackets, a con- .tinuous downwardly opening concave trough extending between adjacent brackets and having its lower margin positioned at or above the lower margin of the molding,lighting means coextensive with the trough mounted in the trough, light con-L the molding, lighting means coextensive with the v trough mounted in the trough, light controlling means mounted at the mouth of the trough, and a iinish sheet on the lower face of the rack extending from the wall to the lower edge of the trough, said light controlling means comprising a plurality of spaced transverse louvers.

. ANDREW T. HAGERTY.

CHRISTIAN M. VERHAGEN. 

